Today, you will find the best scopes for 30-06. The 30-06 rifles are classic firearms whose introduction and usage dates way back to the 1900s. To date, they continue to be big kahunas in the weaponry industry.
The 30-06 rifles’ features have been continually improved and are now made to support accessories to enhance their performance. Many such accessories can be mounted on a 30-06 riffle but this article focuses on scopes.
Complimenting such a powerful rifle with the best scope you can find makes game hunting more thrilling and satisfying. The infinite choices in the market make it difficult to settle for a particular option so you need to know how to go about selecting only the best scopes for 30-06.
In this post, we will look at the requirements a scope has to meet before it’s declared suitable for 30-06. Without further ado, let’s look at the attributes that define a 30-06 scope:
What Makes a Great 30-06 Scope?
Scopes. There are hundreds of them but what makes a scope great? Knowing that the scope will be used outdoors for the greater part of its life should guide you on what exterior features to look for. By this, we mean the construction of the scope’s housing and how well it can withstand such exposure.
This is where now you check for the material like for instance most scope manufacturers use aluminum because of how tough and durable it is. A good scope should also feature O-ring seals together with a nitrogen purge to keep all moisture content out.
Additionally, a great scope should offer effective reliability and performance in terms of magnification. A wide range should be available to ensure images should come out as crisp clear at all ranges.
Adjustments should be easy to make with the knobs being situated in easily accessible parts. The lens should support hunting in different light settings as well.
1) Vortex Diamondback Tactical FFP 6-24×50 Riflescope
Vortex Optics live up to the hype delivering top-notch performance on every rifle they land on. With just a budget of $500, you can get the Vortex Diamondback Tactical FFP 6-24×50 Riflescope. A horde of features is what you get with this scope.
The scope scores highly among the best scopes for 30-06 due to its unbeatable performance at a reasonable price tag. Clarity is important in the hunting field so you find the lens in this scope is made from extra-low dispersion glass which is great for the elimination of chromatic aberrations.
A fully multicoated lens lets you enjoy clear target views coupled with perfected aims. At 44mm diameter size field of view is extensive. The reticle is located on the first focal plane and is glass-etched to maintain accuracy across all magnification ranges.
There is the luxury of choosing between MRAD and MOA reticle styles. Magnification is at a 4:1 zoom ratio with the addition of a precision-glide erector system for smooth switching.
Closing in on targets is made easy by the fast focus eyepiece on this scope. The best scopes for 30-06 should help throw out range estimation guesswork and with this Vortex scope, it is no different. On it are exposed tactical turrets alongside a parallax adjustment to ensure your aim is focused in the right places only.
What is a scope without strong housing to protect its elements? Vortex manufactures its scopes with shockproof material that prevents adjustment of any settings during impact. Tight O-ring seals are set in place along with nitrogen-purging of the tube to maintain water and fog-proof performance.
Features
- 4:1 magnification ratio to deal with several shooting situations
- Comfortable magnification ring with precision-glide erector system for smooth adjusting
- Eliminates chromatic aberrations through the use of extra-low dispersion glass
- Glass-etched reticle for durability and reliability
- The choice between MOA and MRAD reticle styles
- Fully multi-coated lens for optimal light transmission
- Exposed tactical turrets and parallax adjustment for ultimate precision
- Durably constructed with tight O-ring seals and nitrogen purging for water and fog resistance
2) Athlon Optics Argos BTR GEN2 6-24X50 FFP Riflescope
Athlon Optics Argos BTR GEN2 6-24X50 FFP Riflescope has a beautiful matte finish with a multitude of features tailor-made to suit shooting at different distances.
It features a well-constructed aluminum body, argon purging, and tight O-ring seals to deliver a weatherproof performance. Thanks to this tough construction, the scope can hold zero no matter what impact it is subjected to.
The interior specs include a 50mm objective lens of 6-24x power and APMR FFP reticle. These are supported by the exposed tactical turret and side focus parallax adjustment knobs for good range estimation.
The APMR reticle style is available in two options, you can pick between MOA and MIL. To help with accuracy the reticle is illuminated for those low-light settings.
Furthermore, the lenses are fully multicoated to increase light transmission for bright and sharp images. On the exterior, the lenses are given protection from dust, debris, oil and dust by XPL coating.
The best scopes for 30-06 should have enough eye relief to protect the eye and also to allow better sights in the field. For safe shooting, this scope has a generous eye relief and a large field of view even at higher magnification.
This scope has a 30mm tube diameter for comfy use and carrying around. Compared to other scopes in its category, this scope is considerably priced. Athlon backs that up with excellent customer service to resolve any arising issues related to any of their scopes.
Features
- 50mm objective lens with 6-24x magnification power
- Parallax adjustment available
- An illuminated reticle that adopts the MOA or MIL style
- XPL coating on the exterior lens for durability
- 7-4.5 feet field of view
- Compact size for ease of use
- Fairly priced
3) Bushnell Elite Tactical 3.5-21×50 HDMR II Riflescope
Elite Tactical 3.5-21×50 HDMR II Riflescope is not just one of the best scopes for 30-06 by Bushnell but the best for short-range engagements. Crafted with exceptional precision, this rugged scope will stun you with its wide elevation travel. 33.5 MIL will give the range estimation needed to fall that target in a single shot.
Bushnell incorporates their very own Horus 59 reticle graced with .2MIL hash marks for added accuracy. The reticle is glass-etched to keep it effectively protected for great performance over a long time. They do not stop there but go ahead and add a 25-yard parallax adjustment side focus for lethal short ranges shots.
Should you be looking for a 30-06 scope with amazing stopping power Elite Tactical is just the one. It is configured with RevLimiter Zero Stop that allows firm lock-ins at zero and easy resets when required.
The turrets have very conspicuous letter numberings for easy identification when doing adjustments and you also get.5 MIL markings were added in there. This scope is best for indoor dry-fire practice.
Features
- Offers high-quality close-range performance
- 5 MIL elevation travel
- Glass etched reticle for durability
- Sharp focus supported by parallax adjustment side focus
- RevLimiter Zero Stop configuration to hold zero and allow reset quickly
- Exposed turrets with visible markings
- Ideal for indoor dry fire practice
- Ruggedly built for durability with the addition of scope caps and cover for protection
4) Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm Side Focus Riflescope
Leupold’s consistent production of high-quality scopes is why they could easily be termed the de facto leader in the optics industry. Many are the scopes they release in each of their series but our prime focus in this article is Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm Side Focus Riflescope.
One of the best scopes to mount on your 30-06 rifle for impressive results in the hunting fields. To balance out between your view field and magnification, this scope has five times power at its highest setting. 5:1 zoom range allows you a variety of shooting applications.
Clarity, reduced glare, excellent light transmission, and resolution are all centered on the scope professional-grade optical system. To keep aberrations out of your wayside focus parallax adjustment is actively present. With this, the reticle is stabilized even when the target is moving.
The scope reticle is located on the second focal plane. Leupold scopes have a custom dial system with laser markings that allows you to set preferred turret adjustments to match your prevailing environmental conditions.
A ZeroLock system is part of the features that help the scope stay at zero even during recoils and other rough movements. Best in its own right, this scope is fog, water, and shockproof. Guard-ion coating is used to keep lenses free of dirt and water.
Features
- Powerful magnification
- Reduced glare and excellent light transmission for clear resolution and clarity of images
- Side focus parallax adjustment
- Reticle situated on SFP
- Custom Dial System to match turret settings with existing surrounding conditions
- ZeroLock to avoid alteration of settings during movement/recoils
- Guard-ion coating to protect the lens from dirt and water
- Fog, water, and shockproof scope
5) Monstrum G2 1-4×24 First Focal Plane FFP Rifle Scope
In case you are wondering why the Monstrum G2 riflescope is considered one of the best scopes for 30-06, here is a highlight of what this piece can achieve. Eye relief has been left at 4-4.5 inches.
This distance is very comfortable and provides much safety from hard recoils especially when you are doing several rounds in quick succession. A combination of 1-4x magnification with a 24mm objective lens means this scope is for the shooter craving high precision every time they sight a target.
The scope’s reticle is one of the first focal plane and is designed to estimate ranges and make holdover corrections. The readings are easy to read and interpret to save you much-needed time in every hunt.
Another feature to blow away 30-06 users is the availability of dial-controlled illumination. Illumination goes hand in hand with improved veracity of aim in dimly lit environments and for nights as well. Red and green are what are commonly used in this scope. The choice is also not limited to brightness intensities.
Chromatic abnormalities can be annoying when you are trying to get a good hold of your target. The good thing with this scope is how the adjustable objective lens is blended with full multi-layer coatings to keep the images clear.
The adjustable objective also removes parallax and makes range estimation much more effective. Monstrum G2 is a leader among the best scopes for 30-06 for those on a budget.
Features
- Ideal for 300 yards and more
- 4-4.5 eye relief
- The illuminated reticle on FFP with different brightness intensities
- Efficient range estimations and holder over corrections
- Adjustable objective lens to provide clarity of images
- ½ MOA zero-reset clicks for windage and elevation settings
- Inclusion of flip-up lens covers, scope rings and sunshade
6) Simmons 8-Point 3-9x50mm Rifle Scope with Truplex Reticle
Coming with a truplex reticle that encompasses the inclusion of thick intersecting lines and finer ones towards the middle for good aim, Simmons 8-Point 3-9x50mm Rifle Scope is another best 30-06 scope worth buying.
This scope does not cut corners in all matters of quality image delivery. They add fully coated optics to their scopes for edge-to-edge image definition. Brightness is well-balanced thanks to the coating too.
Instead of ½ windage and elevation adjustment, this scope uses ¼ Sure-Grip clicks for estimating how far off the bullet will be thrown from its trajectory and how far down it will drop.
Windage and elevation support is given by a QTA eyepiece that quickly captures the target position. Harsh recoils have nothing on the zero-lock system used on this scope, no accidental adjustments ruin your settings.
Features
- Fully coated optics for sharpened image visuals
- Truplex reticle with thick lines for accurate aim
- 184 SureGrio MOA clicks for windage and elevation corrections
- QTA eyepiece to quickly identify targets
- Zero-lock to prevent alteration of user’s settings during kickbacks
- Other specs: 31.4-10.5 feet FOV
- 75 eye relief
- Weight of 13.2 ounces
7) Burris 4.5-14×42 FullField Ballistic Plex Reticle Riflescope
To top off our reviews on the best 30-06 scopes is Burris 4.5-14×42 FullField Riflescope whose features include a ballistic plex reticle that carries with it several advantages. To start with this reticle style is simple to understand let alone use, provides long-range trajectory accuracy and matches well with any bullet weight and caliber.
The only shortcoming is that it lacks illumination. To compensate for that, however, the scope has index-matched multi-coated aids to eliminate glare in bright light and improve lighting in dim regions.
Knobs for elevation, windage, parallax and fast focus assume the capped hunter style. Both windage and elevation give 40MOA adjustment with 1/4MOA click value. Parallax on this scope is handled by the adjustable objective to give 50yards to infinity adjustment capability. These adjustments have an impressive steel-on-steel style for consistent accuracy.
High-grade optical glass is a guarantee for durability coupled with superb clarity and brightness. This solid piece is nitrogen-filled to support usage even in moist conditions. Overall, it is beautifully finished with a matte coating.
Features
- Ballistic Plex reticle style for accurate trajectory estimations
- Index-matched multi-coated aids for glare reduction in very brightly lit situations and sharpening images in low light conditions
- Capped hunter knob style
- 50yards to infinity parallax adjustment capability
- Top-quality glass for razor-sharp images.
- Durable housing with a matte finish
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Best Scopes for 30-06 Buying Guide & FAQs
Considerations when Buying a Scope for 30-06
Field of view
How much you can see of your target and the surrounding area is essential during hunts. The 30-06 rifles are sculptured to do long ranges but that does not mean you cannot utilize them for medium and short distances.
The best scopes for 30-06 should give you a wide view field so when choosing the magnification, first of all, go for the variable power option then pick a wide range of saying up to 9x.
This way with you can lower the power for a wider view then power it up to close in on the target. Lens diameter also helps with the field of view, the larger the better but ensure the size matches with magnification
Objective Lens
Optimized light transmission is one of the mainstays of scopes and with a quality objective lens in place, this should be achievable. It should have the ability to gather maximum light at all times more so at dawn and dusk which is when most hunters prefer. The best scope for 30-06 should have at least 40 to 50mm objective lens.
Adjustment Knobs
What quality of adjustment knob does the scope have? How easy are they to work with? These are some of the factors to check for. Whether windage, elevation, parallax, or fast-focus eyepiece these knobs, for one, should be placed at a point that it is finger-reachable. They should be quickly responsive whenever you want to make adjustments.
Eye Relief
Be keen on eye relief when choosing the best scope for your 30-06. That distance between the eye and the scope is paramount to your safety, well, that of your eye to be precise.
Make the wrong choice and scope bite will have you with an eye patch for the next hunt. A distance of three to four inches should be enough eye relief to stay clear of 30-06 recoils.
Weight
Weight counts when it comes to scope choices. Getting a weighty scope derails your movement at worse missed shots because you got thrown off balance. Choose a scope whose weight when added to that of the 30-06 will not tire you out as you carry it around on your back.
Rugged Design
Your 30-06 scope choice should scoop as many points as is possible when it comes to durability. Any good scope should take you several hunts before it calls for a replacement. With a rugged design, you are assured that whatever the scope is subjected to it will not break.
Another problem with flimsy scope designs is their inability to hold zero when subjected to impact. A ruggedly constructed scope should move any of your adjustments otherwise it will cost you a good shot. check for strong material paired with a durable finish, nitrogen purging and O-ring seals in any scope you come across.
Read: Best AR-10 Scopes
Best Scopes for 30-06 FAQs
Q: What Magnification Do You Need?
The magnification setting you settle for will usually be based on your position or that of the target. The magnification needed for 1000 yards cannot be similar to the one used at 200 yards.
For medium ranges, 200 to 400 yards, 4-9x power is best suited for 30-06 rifles. However, do not underestimate the power of this firearm in long-range shooting. It is therefore advisable to go for a scope with a wide power range for it to be efficient in both short and long-range shooting.
Q: What is the Effective Range of 30-06?
30-06 was designed for long-distance shooting that stretches up to 1000 yards while it can still deliver a good shot for 150 yards. Big game hunters and shooters in long-distance contests find the use of scopes on this rifle quite useful.
Q: Which is a Better Rifle 308 or 30-06?
Both do a pretty good job especially in medium to big game hunting the likes of deer, coyote and elks. For rabbits or squirrels, however, they are a bad choice. For faster accurate shots 308 is your perfect rifle while for great stopping power 30-06 shines better. Whatever the choice, both rifles show astounding performance.
Q: What grain bullet is best for 30-06?
Grain in bullets refers to their weight. 175 to the 180-grain bullet is enough for the job.
Q: What size scope rings for 30-06?
Tube size determines the type of rings needed. The tube size diameters may differ depending on the model you have. So, it helps to know that first before selecting a specific type of ring.
Conclusion
The 30-06 cartridge is one of the top-quality designs you could ever come across and due to this many numerous scopes have been designed to unmask its potential. Our criteria of selection focused on performance, design, and ease of use.
The Athlon Optics Argos BTR GEN2 6-24X50 FFP Riflescope notably stood out for its wide objective lens, choice of reticle options and the overall combination of all other features to deliver such high power in a single-piece tube. You can begin with any other of our seven picks to get a great head start in perfecting your shooting skills.